2025 was my first full year of birdwatching, and the year I began to appreciate all the birds, big and small, that live on Canada's west coast. I started photographing birds more seriously (which was much harder than I had initially thought, what with their twitching and flitting), and exploring different bird sanctuaries in every city I visited. This post highlights some memorable moments from the year, which are largely the moments that my camera was actually in focus. Grea

May 2025 There was no better way to celebrate finishing my Master's than riding through the UK by rail, looking for birds (and sheep) with my mom. In London, we walked from St. James Park to Kensington Palace. The waterfowl were out in full force, with mute swans patrolling the waterways and a variety of ducks and geese posing against the spring colours. Our next stop was Windsor Castle, where swifts flitted overhead as we weaved in and around the gardens and stonework. We wa

Jan-Feb 2025 Visiting Finnish Lapland at the start of 2025 was one of the most magical and memorable trips I've taken. Many friends and family questioned why I wanted to visit the arctic circle in the middle of winter, and I hope the following photos provide some convincing answers. A Lapland reindeer preparing for a sleigh ride through the snow Our first few days were spent in a tiny home in the woods, surrounded by snow, more snow, and the occasional reindeer. A perfect sno

January 2025 When one of your closest friends moves to Europe to start her MSc, the only option is to go visit. Portugal in January may not be the typical winter vacation, but the lack of crowds, sunny skies, and host of new birds made for an amazing trip. After a brief stop in Lisbon, we made our way to the island of Madeira, home to a wide variety of stunning hikes and beautiful views. Daily rain showers typically ended with rainbows reaching across the ocean and waterfalls